David Schnider is the president and CEO of Fujikura, the industry leader in golf shafts.

He will also play in his first major championship this week.

The Carlsbad, Calif. resident qualified for the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I., as an amateur, finishing 1-under 70 and advancing in a playoff as the second qualifier. 

Tim Hogarth shot 2-under 69 to earn medalist honors. Hogarth is currently ranked No. 38 in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings.

“When I turned 50, I saw the opportunity to play in a major at the U.S. Senior Open, so I got my game ready again and tried to qualify for a major,” Schnider said. 

“I know if my game were in good shape, I would have a chance. It is a good golf course for me,” Schnider added. “I am a little longer off the tee than the other guys out there.” 

Schnider has experience playing in big events. He played in the U.S. amateur at age 27 and the 2004 Buick Invite, now the Farmers Invitational, at Torrey Pines, where he qualified as an amateur. 

“The coolest part about this is that when I was 34 years old, I played at Torrey Pines, and my dad was on the bag for me,” Schnider said. “It was a dream of his to carry his son’s bag inside the ropes.”

Schnider added, “20 years later, my son is caddying for me at the U.S. Senior Open.”

Playing in a PGA Tour event gave Schnider the confidence he could play against the best and compete.

“I didn’t go pro after college, but I always wanted to know if I could come out there,” Schnider said. “I played in that tournament and missed the cut, but I shot a 69 in the second round. That was something I always wanted to do.”

However, qualifying is not the best part of the upcoming week. The best part is who he is able to share the experience with.

“The big excitement for me is being able to share this with my son, who will caddy with some of the best in the world and meet some of these guys,” Schnider said.

He added, “The results we create, whatever it is, it is, but the week is going to be the best time of my life.” 

Schnider will get to play early, as he is in the opening group on Thursday and will tee off at 7:00 a.m. with Jeff Martin of Attleboro, Mass. and Will Yanagisawa of Long Beach, Calif.